Meiotic drive at the D(MD) locus and fertility in the mosquito, Aedes aegypti (L)

The Distorter gene D in Aedes aegypti shows meiotic drive when associated with the male determining M gene, causing sex ratio distortion in favour of males. The fertility of Distorter (MD /ms) and normal (M/m-) males has been compared after mating them to a series of 20 females at daily intervals. ; Males of each genotype inseminated up to 13 fe. males (mean 8.0 – 9.0). The major difference was in the significantly greater number of inviable eggs produced by females mated to Distorter males. It is postulated that these eggs were fertilised by abnormal spermatozoa. Females mated to Distorter males also produced significantly greater numbers of shrivelled i.e. unfertilised eggs, indicating a lower density of effective spermatozoa.; The difference in percentage hatch from the two matings was small, indicating that spermatozoa were produced in superabundance so that the overall fertility of Distorter males was not greatly reduced.